Dr. James Ebaugh passed away on November 30, 2021 at the age of ninety-eight years.  He was born on October 30, 1923 to Lee  Amos Ebaugh and Myrtle Irene Van Tuyl-Ebaugh in Long Beach, California. The son of an oilfield worker, James, also affectionately known as "Doc" and "Jim", moved to various oilfields in California before the family settled in Bakersfield.  As a youth, James enjoyed hunting and fishing.  He often talked of horse packing solo in the Sierra when only a teenager.

James was a 1940 graduate of Kern County High School (Bakersfield, California) where among other activities, he excelled in track and field.  After graduation, he attended Bakersfield Jr. College before transferring to Colorado State University where he studied Veterinary Medicine.  He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1945.

After graduating, he returned to Bakersfield and married his high school sweetheart, Floy Stockton. James began his career as a vet in the San Joaquin Valley before establishing Gilroy Veterinary Hospital in 1948.  His specialty was large animals, especially beef and dairy cattle on local ranches and dairies.  Some say he was the best "cow man" in the fifty states!   He is also fondly remembered by generations of 4H and FFA members.  As the Santa Clara Valley begin to change, his emphasis began to switch to family pets.

In the mid 1950's he served on the committee that eventually became the South Santa Clara Valley Water District that was responsible for building Uvas and Chesbro Dams. He considered this one of the most important events in the future of the area.  During the 1960's James served on the school board of the Gilroy Unified School District.

His passion for fishing continued into his nineties.  He made annual trips to his summer home on Quadra Island, British Columbia. He passed his knowledge of the local waters and his favorite fishing spots to other family members. Throughout the years, he hosted family and friends, too numerous to mention, at the Quadra house.

James was predeceased by his wife Floy, son David and daughter Nancy.  He is survived by his daughter Laura Stocks (David) and son Mark (Torrey).  He also leaves seven grandchildren and and eight great grandchildren.

James' late years were active until the very end.  These years were greatly blessed by his partner and soul mate Beth Hinton and her family.

A memorial will be held in the near future. Burial will be at the family cemetery in Bakersfield in April.